Storm Brews Over Identity Error

October 25, 2002|By Nancy L. OthM-sn Staff writer

WEST PALM BEACH — The full-color ad assails Democrat Dave Aronberg for "bilking" the Palm Beach County School District of $300,000 and "lining his pockets" with money meant for schoolchildren. But there's a problem: wrong Aronberg.

While there is a lawyer named David Aronberg who sued the Palm Beach County School Board, it's not the assistant attorney general running for Florida Senate District 27.

The lawyer in private practice is David T. Aronberg. The candidate, who goes by Dave, is David A. Aronberg.

Now both Aronbergs are fuming.

The Republican Party of Florida, which paid for the flier sent out to voters in the district that stretches from Lee County to Palm Beach County, has publicly apologized, saying the snafu resulted from an "honest, unintentional mistake."

The flier is malicious, libelous, offensive and outrageous, Dave Aronberg the candidate said Thursday, during a news conference outside the Palm Beach County Courthouse. And he's not buying the explanation that mistaken identity was accidental.

He said the Republicans are well aware he was on a White House fellowship during the time the lawsuit was litigated. He talks about the fellowship -- and the fact he worked for both a Democratic and a Republican White House -- at most of his campaign appearances. It's also mentioned on his Web site.

"This nasty attack piece represents a new low in Florida politics," Aronberg said. "These are the desperate tactics of a desperate man who is down in the polls -- Frank Mann."

The flier refers to a 1999 lawsuit filed against the School Board by parents of several Spanish River High School students over fees for field trips and other activities. As a result of the lawsuit, the School Board made student fees voluntary. The lawsuit was settled for $300,000, which included $175,000 in attorney's fees.

But the ad says nothing of saving students' money and instead claims the district was forced to end field trips. It also chastises David Aronberg for pocketing the attorney's fees "that should have paid for text books and teacher's salaries."

"Shame on David Aronberg for taking our children's field trip money to enrich himself!" states the ad, which features a photo of a young boy standing in front of a school bus, his arms folded in front of his chest.

David Aronberg, one of three lawyers who spent hundreds of hours on the case, said he is extremely upset about the ad and is exploring a lawsuit.

"I thought I did a good thing for the kids of Palm Beach County. They were illegally charged fees. I changed the policy," he said. "This was pretty simple to figure out. I think it was done intentionally, and I have a serious problem with it."

Aronberg said he signs every legal filing with his middle initial "T" and the documents have been public record for two years, which would have made it simple for party officials to double-check.

His attorney, Pat Lawlor, blasted the Republican Party for not doing "basic, investigatory work" before the ad was sent. Lawlor said the noncandidate David Aronberg was defamed and slandered and there could be damage to his practice as a result of the ad.

Republican Party spokesman Towson Fraser said the party has sent candidate Dave Aronberg a letter of apology and will send a copy of the apology as well as a clarification to every voter who received the original mailing. He said the party hadn't heard from lawyer David Aronberg, but that it was a "mistake all around," and he offered his apologies to him as well.

"Our main concern at this point is that voters know it was an error," Fraser said.

Fraser said officials are looking into how the mistake happened and will handle it appropriately.

Candidate Aronberg said he's looking into filing a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission.

Nancy L. OthM-sn can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6633.